Nigeria and the European Union have reaffirmed their commitment to a “deepening strategic partnership,” with a major ministerial summit scheduled for Abuja in March 2026.
The announcement followed a high-level meeting on Tuesday between Nigeria’s Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dunoma Ahmed, and the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot.
Both sides described 2026 as a “pivotal year” for scaling up trade, security, and climate cooperation between the continent’s largest economy and the 27-member bloc.
Moving beyond oil
Ambassador Ahmed emphasised that under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Nigeria is aggressively seeking to diversify its economy. He invited European investors to focus on several “priority sectors”:
- Agriculture: Boosting food security and export capacity.
- The Digital Economy: Expanding Nigeria’s growing tech ecosystem.
- Green Energy: Collaborating on climate adaptation and the transfer of sustainable technologies.
“The EU remains a critical development partner,” Ambassador Ahmed said, adding that Nigeria is looking for a “balanced and humane” approach to migration that includes legal mobility and skills partnerships for the country’s youth.
The ‘Global Gateway’ strategy
The EU’s Ambassador Mignot highlighted the Global Gateway, the bloc’s multi-billion euro infrastructure plan designed to rival global competitors. He noted that significant EU-backed investments are already flowing into Nigerian infrastructure, clean energy, and water transportation.
The EU also pledged continued support for Nigeria’s security architecture, specifically targeting:
- Maritime Security: Tackling piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
- Regional Stability: Combating violent extremism and terrorism in West Africa.
- Post-conflict Recovery: Addressing the root causes of insecurity, such as poverty and unemployment.
Looking ahead to March
Preparations are now officially underway for the Nigeria-EU Ministerial Meeting in Abuja this March. The summit is expected to produce concrete agreements on trade and regional stabilisation.
“We see a strong alignment between Nigeria’s priorities and the EU’s strategic objectives,” Ambassador Mignot said, expressing confidence that the upcoming talks will consolidate a partnership built on multilateralism and the rule of law.
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